Howdy people, it's that time again. Thanks, as always for your comments on last weeks selection, it seems some of them brought back happy memories for you, i'm hoping this weeks selection will please you all just as much.
Most pleasantly surprising of all the comments was the one from
Bryon, better known to many of you here as
Time Traveller, the original author of this very blog, after being MIA for the best part of a year.
Bryon mate, it was great to hear from you again, glad to hear things are going better, and excited that you're considering a return to full blogging action.
Very pleased too that you seem to be enjoying and approving of the work i've been doing in your absence. I learned from the best, what can i say?
You can still get in touch through my old e-mail address my friend, please do so when you get the chance, it'll be good to catch up.
So, back to tonight's post then:
Paul Birch founded Wolverhampton based Heavy Metal Records as a vehicle to promote HANDSOME BEASTS, the Nuneaton boogie band he managed at the time, when an initial demo was rejected by all the major labels. Having formed as early as 1973, they finally debuted with the "All Riot Now" single in 1980, following it up with the "Breaker" EP and the "Sweeties" single, all issued by Heavy Metal Records. The band finally released a full blown album, "Beastiality" in 1982. Regrettably the band is remembered more for frontman Gary Dalloway's corpulence than their music, a problem not helped by the album's tasteless cover. The next album from the band was to be 1990's "The Beast Within", with bass now being handled by Mark Knight, although the album sleeve notes mistakenly list his name as 'Wright'. In the latter days of the band guitarist Phil Aston was a member (and went on to join ROGUE MALE and TANTRUM) and a third album was recorded during 1993 and, although finalised, was never released due to Heavy Metal Records going bankrupt. Surprisingly, HANDSOME BEASTS are still a going concern, reuniting annually for a one off gig to appease their fans. By 2004 the band, now including CHEVY drummer Ted Duggan, was plotting a new album, released on the Heavy Rock label as "04".
Recordings conducted during 2006 found PETE WAY of UFO & WAYSTED and Spike of THE QUIREBOYS guesting. Tragically, Garry Dalloway died from a fatal heart attack on August 20th that year. Nevertheless, Dalloway had apparently already appointed his successor, Simon "Mongo" Hall, and he debuted with the band at the British Steel festival. The band released a new album in 2007, "Rock & A Hard Place", which was released by Q Records. In 2008, "Mongo" left the band, and his recently announced replacement is none other than Rocky Shades formerly of TITAN, WRATHCHILD, DISCHARGE and ONE TRACK AND DIRTY.
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